IPL 10, Match 15, KXIP v DD – Kings XI Punjab Predicted XI

Kings XI Punjab will be playing their second consecutive away game just 48 hours after their first one. This will also be Delhi Daredevils’ first home game of the season. Both teams have had contrasting last two games. Daredevils recently annihilated Pune Supergiant while Kings XI Punjab got battered by KKR in a one-side game which sent Punjab to the number 3 spot on the points table.

After a disappointing game, Punjab shouldn’t think too much about the loss. The format of the tournament is such; teams should recover from the loss as quickly as possible and concentrate on the next game. They must play aggressively, as their coach Sehwag emphasized at the start of the season.

Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, is fresh from a 97-run trouncing of RPS. They had a ‘near perfect’ game as their skipper Zaheer Khan said. They should look to utilize this momentum to fetch them a couple of more wins to get them up and running in the tournament.

No wholesale changes are expected in the Kings XI side. They should keep their batting-order flexible according to the needs and demands during the game. Below is the Predicted XI for Kings XI Punjab for their away game against Delhi Daredevils:

Openers (Hashim Amla and Manan Vohra)

Manan Vohra has been a batsman who never seems to play to his full potential. The Punjab batsman is a very stylish player but is guilty of throwing it away after getting a decent start. An overall average of 26 in 65 T20 games doesn’t do justice to the talent he is born with. Though all of just 23, Vohra must look to exploit the opportunities he has been presented with, which he hasn’t so far this season. He is a free flowing batsman but has to realize that strike rotation and look for the odd boundary is the best way to go about batting in the middle overs, instead of trying to smash every ball. He has the experience of Amla at the other end to seek inspiration from.

After an enterprising unbeaten half-century in Punjab’s win against RPS, Amla largely struggled to get going against KKR especially in the latter part of his innings. Amla needs to find a way of eking out runs once the fielding restrictions are lifted. He doesn’t strike them big but is experienced enough to pick his spots and stroke the ball in the gaps, something which was missing in the last game. The partnership of Amla and Vohra at the top is the best combination available and must be stuck with.

Middle Order (Saha, Glenn Maxwell and David Miller)

Wriddhiman Saha is too good a player to be wasted at number 6. In his 17-ball 25, he displayed the kind of form he is in at the moment. He blazed away to an unbeaten 115 in the finals of 2014 IPL batting at number 4 and so, there is no reason why he cannot do a repeat of that performance. Saha should bat at either number 3 or 4, also due to the fact that he plays the spinners so well. He will counter with the spin threat of Shahbaz Nadeem and Amit Mishra well.

The rest two spots are already occupied by skipper Maxwell and South African star David Miller. Both got to the twenties in the last game but couldn’t push on from there. They must take more responsibility as they are two players who Punjab rely a lot on. Quick 20’s or 30’s won’t help their side a great deal as big half centuries are expected from them. Both have great deal of international experience and must make sure that last game’s collapse – where they lost 3 wickets in one over off Umesh Yadav in the 18^th over, must not happen again.

Lower middle order (Darren Sammy and Axar Patel)

Both are all-rounders capable of handling the bat well. Axar has also been backed as a batsman but hasn’t quite delivered to the expectations. He is a crucial cog in the Punjab’s middle order wheel. He strikes them big and being a left-hander, can manage the left-arm or leg spinners really well. He has been great for his side with the ball for the last three years and has an economy rate of 7.30 so far in his IPL career.

Darren Sammy can get a chance ahead of Stoinis for his big-hitting abilities are more suited to the number 6 spot. Sammy recently led Peshawar Zulmi to the PSL title and was himself in good form with the bat. He can bring the much-needed experience in the lower middle order and can offer leadership advice to Maxwell as the former has won 2 World T20 titles as captain.

Bowlers (Pradeep Sahu, Mohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma and Sandeep Sharma)

Kings XI Punjab are missing a wrist spinner and the role can be played well by Pradeep Sahu. Punjab go in with just the lone spinner in Axar Patel understandably because of the dew that sets in during the game. But that shouldn’t deter them with going in with an experienced spinner as Sahu. It is a risk, but if it comes off, it will hold their bowling attack in good stead for the tournament. Also, the Delhi wicket will be very dry due to the heat and might give the spinners some purchase during the game.

The pace trio of the Sharma’s – Ishant, Mohit and Sandeep have the experience as well as quality. Sandeep must bowl at least 3 overs upfront. He swings the new ball both ways and can get the early wicket at the start. Ishant can partner him with the new ball, and so he did in the last game. Mohit brings variety with his slower balls and cutters and is more suited for the middle overs. All three must understand their role and stick to their plans.